The New Hampshire Medicaid Benefit is Here!!

A new day in New Hampshire has dawned as the state joins the majority of our nation supporting the Hospice cause.  On August 18, 2009, Governor John Lynch signed SB42 into law which makes Hospice benefits available to those residents of the state that have Medicaid.

And so now the work begins to interpret that law and follow the guidelines provided by CMS.  Several hospices in the state, including Seacoast Hospice, are participating in the conferences and meetings needed to hammer out the regulations to bring these much needed services to the New Hampshire area.  Though Hospice programs have tried to assist with some services, much of the care that has been provided has been limited.  Now a more comprehensive approach will help those patients in New Hampshire who need hospice and were  not able to obtain it.

The state, along with the New Hampshire Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Home Care Association of New Hampshire, were able to provide statistics that demonstrated that this would be a cost neutral benefit.  Research also demonstrated that the hospice patient patient lived an average of 29 days longer that those patients with a similar problem who did not opt for hospice care.  The Hospice Medicaid Benefit is due to be available starting in January of 2010.  As we progress through the task of writing the regulations, we will keep everyone informed.